Truck carrying chickens overturns on Italy's A7, sparking animal deaths and massive traffic jam
Around 02:30 a.m. on 22 July 2026 a heavy truck loaded with live chickens lost control on the A7 motorway between Binasco and Assago, near Milan. The vehicle rolled onto its side, rupturing cages and scattering hundreds of birds onto the road, killing many. The driver, a 55‑year‑old, was injured and taken to Humanitas Hospital in Rozzano. The accident forced the closure of the northbound lane, creating traffic queues up to 10 km.
Later the same day, an A18 highway crash near Messina involved a stranded truck, two road‑maintenance workers and a third heavy vehicle, leaving three people seriously injured and prompting a temporary closure of the road.
Separate incidents on the A19 motorway in Sicily saw wildfires damage vegetation beside the road, leading to partial closures and ongoing police and ANAS monitoring.
Additional road accidents were reported across Italy: a truck struck a cyclist in Pizzighettone, killing the 72‑year‑old rider; a motorist lost control in Rovigo and crashed into a concrete barrier, killing the driver; and a series of collisions on the FiPiLi and other highways caused injuries and long traffic delays.
These events highlight a string of severe traffic accidents and infrastructure disruptions affecting motorists throughout Italy in a single day.